The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
SNP leader snubbed over extra payments
Group’s chief no longer classed as a ‘senior’ despite unhappy members’ efforts in vote
Unhappy SNP councillors have slammed a decision to leave their group leader out in the cold when it comes to extra payments.
At the first meeting of the new-look Angus Council, a payment structure proposed by administration leader Bob Myles was voted through, despite Nationalists’ protests.
It will see a total of 12 councillors, in addition to the leader and provost, being given senior payments – but not SNP group chief Lynne Devine.
Despite members of that party’s group trying to put forward the senior payment they were defeated – although Mr Myles did offer an olive branch by saying he would look at the structure again before the next meeting.
Ultimately, it is up to councils to decide who should be classed as senior councillors, which carries an additional payment.
However, national guidance specifically mentions the leader of an opposition group as an example of a senior member.
Its definition of one is a “councillor who holds a significant position of responsibility in the council’s political management structure, for example, a convener of a major committee or the leader of a significant opposition group.”
When the SNP led the last council, pre-election, there was no similar payment made.
However, there was no opposition leader, with the non-administration councillors consisting of eight independents, four Conservatives, one Labour and one Liberal Democrat.
SNP councillor Alex King said: “An omission is the provision of a senior councillor’s allowance for the leader of the main opposition group.
“That is not shown. It always has been before. It may not have been in the last administration but it should be included.”
Fellow SNP councillor Bill Duff suggested the salaries for conveners should be reduced slightly to enable an additional payment to the SNP leader.
Following an adjournment for advice to be given by the council’s head of legal, Sheona Hunter, Mr Myles said he still wanted to proceed with the proposed remuneration structure but the payments would be looked at again before the next council meeting.
When it went to the vote, the nine SNP councillors and Independent Brian Boyd were defeated by the 16 administration votes. The two Liberal Democrats did not vote.
Mr King then tried to push forward with the idea that councillors should be paid the basic salary until a new proposal could be bought to the next meeting, with outstanding additional payments then made in arrears.
However, this was also defeated, by 14 votes to 10.